If government employees want collective bargaining, they should have to make their bargain with the people who pay for their wages and benefits: the local taxpayers. Every time they want a raise, they should have to get 50.1% of the voting public to approve their raise. That should keep the politicians out of the equation. Politicians love to spend more money than they take in and promise things they can never deliver.
only in recent years have unions had the power over state and federal government as a very SPECIAL INTEREST…donations and votes and election support (non-cash but valuable) …legally.-Illinois is in great need for some Walker clones….to trim union powers and trim salaries and featherbed pensions of state workers….the true ELITE of the US work force.
News Flash: the BLS numbers are incorrect; Walker has since last year and so far this year created nearly 39k jobs in WI. He obtained this by polling tens of thousands of local businesses. Those local businesses also stated they now intend to add jobs this year. Also, there’s one item that is a black eye that’s being covered up by concealer: The plans to open and iron mine in Northern Wisconsin was shut down by … you guessed it: Liberals for environmental reasons. Here’s another interesting statistic for you: Property tax rates across the state went down for the first time in over a decade, and we have a budget SURPLUS now. Given our current economic condition, I’d say that’s no small feat. This recall election was about was power, pure and simple. The unions were losing their mandatory dues, thus eliminating their ability to (through coersion) elect their own boss so they could get sweetheart deals. It was a straight-up conflict of interests. Union bosses would go to the state, say “We want xyz for our union members.” Liberal state rep would say, “Sure, sounds good to me.” Liberal state rep would then get re-elected, with the endorsement of the unions. A shocker, I know! If said liberal state rep would say, “no, I don’t want to give you that,” said liberal state rep would soon be replaced by another liberal state rep that would say, “Sure, sounds good to me.”You want proof of this, look at Walker vs. our last governor. From 2001 to 2010, teachers salaries went from $40,594 (with another $14,828 in fringe benefits) to $49,093 (with another $25,750 in fringe benefits). If you annualize this out in 2001, they made just north of 54k per teacher in just wages. The Wisconsin income for the average per person was 29k, a 25k difference. In 2010, teachers made roughly 65k again, in just wages, when figured out over the entire year. The average income in 2010 for joe blow was 38k, or a 27k difference. And that’s not including the 25k in fringe benefits, which I’m certain is much more significant than what the private sector gets, even unionized private sector. And this isn’t even counting the guaranteed pension they have after 25 years of service to the cause. The rest of us wage slaves have to cough up money out of our pockets to invest in defined contribution plans, because private enterprise has realized that defined benefit plans are a bankrupt concept.So… if you look at the actual numbers (provided by the census bureau and other government-provided sites), teachers have been getting a steady leg-up on the private sector thanks to their union influence on the government. People gripe and complain about how private enterprise (like the Koch brothers) are so corrupt and people insist they are buying elections, but the proof is actually showing that unions are the ones — not private enterprise — have bought elections. This was another attempt at buying an election, and they failed. Wisconsin taxpayers (and yes, I’m one of them) are sick and tired of being treated like a cash cow to prop up the unions and allow public-sector workers experience benefits and pay that far outstrip those who are paying for those benefits.
Gotta make a correction Doc: 38% of union households voted for Walker. @ Heavy BProperty taxes, hm?http://www.weeklystandard.com/sites/all/files/docs/Property%20Taxes%20Median%20Home%20PDF.pdfProof that after tax credits, the taxes are set to go down. -.3%. Granted, not a lot, but it’s still a reduction. It also shows the growth curve that was set to be enacted here: http://www.weeklystandard.com/sites/all/files/images/walker%20tax%20chart.jpgSo… yeah. Try again. On to the surplus. I find it interesting how a Governor is handed such a terrible deficit from the prior administration (sound familiar to anyone?) and he can turn it around in one year. Without printing money! Holy crap, how’d that happen? Yes, he was able to turn it around in one year. -3.6 billion to +154 million. Interesting, neh?As to your assertion that businesses donate more to republicans compared to democrats, you’d be correct. To some degree. Something like 54% goes to republicans and 46% goes to Democrats. Now transition this to union spending; about 98% of all donations from unions go to democrats. So, who’s the partisan favorites now?In addition, yes, Walker had a bigger campaign chest. But what you’re missing is how much money they dumped at the state since last March to try to (illegally) overturn this process. And how much they spent on the other primary runner who lost. The divided their forces. Unions backed Barrett’s rival, and lost a lot of money in that process.I’m also taken aback by your gall to say that I’m engaging in the politics of envy. You’re one to talk. Liberals have been engaged in the politics of envy since the beginning of the 20th century. OWS sound familiar? Tax the rich? Let the tax cuts for the rich expire? You are a partisan hack job, and a hypocrite to boot. You wear political blinders that preserve your way of thinking by preventing you from listening to reason or facts that don’t fit your mold.
hanmari almost 12 years ago
If government employees want collective bargaining, they should have to make their bargain with the people who pay for their wages and benefits: the local taxpayers. Every time they want a raise, they should have to get 50.1% of the voting public to approve their raise. That should keep the politicians out of the equation. Politicians love to spend more money than they take in and promise things they can never deliver.
Heavy B almost 12 years ago
50th in job creation, 1st in job loss. Thats not a union arm crumbling, thats the middle class.
disgustedtaxpayer almost 12 years ago
only in recent years have unions had the power over state and federal government as a very SPECIAL INTEREST…donations and votes and election support (non-cash but valuable) …legally.-Illinois is in great need for some Walker clones….to trim union powers and trim salaries and featherbed pensions of state workers….the true ELITE of the US work force.
Dtroutma almost 12 years ago
Even for Ramirez, this is stupendously ignorant and backassward.
Wraithkin almost 12 years ago
News Flash: the BLS numbers are incorrect; Walker has since last year and so far this year created nearly 39k jobs in WI. He obtained this by polling tens of thousands of local businesses. Those local businesses also stated they now intend to add jobs this year. Also, there’s one item that is a black eye that’s being covered up by concealer: The plans to open and iron mine in Northern Wisconsin was shut down by … you guessed it: Liberals for environmental reasons. Here’s another interesting statistic for you: Property tax rates across the state went down for the first time in over a decade, and we have a budget SURPLUS now. Given our current economic condition, I’d say that’s no small feat. This recall election was about was power, pure and simple. The unions were losing their mandatory dues, thus eliminating their ability to (through coersion) elect their own boss so they could get sweetheart deals. It was a straight-up conflict of interests. Union bosses would go to the state, say “We want xyz for our union members.” Liberal state rep would say, “Sure, sounds good to me.” Liberal state rep would then get re-elected, with the endorsement of the unions. A shocker, I know! If said liberal state rep would say, “no, I don’t want to give you that,” said liberal state rep would soon be replaced by another liberal state rep that would say, “Sure, sounds good to me.”You want proof of this, look at Walker vs. our last governor. From 2001 to 2010, teachers salaries went from $40,594 (with another $14,828 in fringe benefits) to $49,093 (with another $25,750 in fringe benefits). If you annualize this out in 2001, they made just north of 54k per teacher in just wages. The Wisconsin income for the average per person was 29k, a 25k difference. In 2010, teachers made roughly 65k again, in just wages, when figured out over the entire year. The average income in 2010 for joe blow was 38k, or a 27k difference. And that’s not including the 25k in fringe benefits, which I’m certain is much more significant than what the private sector gets, even unionized private sector. And this isn’t even counting the guaranteed pension they have after 25 years of service to the cause. The rest of us wage slaves have to cough up money out of our pockets to invest in defined contribution plans, because private enterprise has realized that defined benefit plans are a bankrupt concept.So… if you look at the actual numbers (provided by the census bureau and other government-provided sites), teachers have been getting a steady leg-up on the private sector thanks to their union influence on the government. People gripe and complain about how private enterprise (like the Koch brothers) are so corrupt and people insist they are buying elections, but the proof is actually showing that unions are the ones — not private enterprise — have bought elections. This was another attempt at buying an election, and they failed. Wisconsin taxpayers (and yes, I’m one of them) are sick and tired of being treated like a cash cow to prop up the unions and allow public-sector workers experience benefits and pay that far outstrip those who are paying for those benefits.
Heavy B almost 12 years ago
“And Obama is a bigger failure as President”And you keep telling yourself that. Maybe someone will believe you.
Wraithkin almost 12 years ago
Gotta make a correction Doc: 38% of union households voted for Walker. @ Heavy BProperty taxes, hm?http://www.weeklystandard.com/sites/all/files/docs/Property%20Taxes%20Median%20Home%20PDF.pdfProof that after tax credits, the taxes are set to go down. -.3%. Granted, not a lot, but it’s still a reduction. It also shows the growth curve that was set to be enacted here: http://www.weeklystandard.com/sites/all/files/images/walker%20tax%20chart.jpgSo… yeah. Try again. On to the surplus. I find it interesting how a Governor is handed such a terrible deficit from the prior administration (sound familiar to anyone?) and he can turn it around in one year. Without printing money! Holy crap, how’d that happen? Yes, he was able to turn it around in one year. -3.6 billion to +154 million. Interesting, neh?As to your assertion that businesses donate more to republicans compared to democrats, you’d be correct. To some degree. Something like 54% goes to republicans and 46% goes to Democrats. Now transition this to union spending; about 98% of all donations from unions go to democrats. So, who’s the partisan favorites now?In addition, yes, Walker had a bigger campaign chest. But what you’re missing is how much money they dumped at the state since last March to try to (illegally) overturn this process. And how much they spent on the other primary runner who lost. The divided their forces. Unions backed Barrett’s rival, and lost a lot of money in that process.I’m also taken aback by your gall to say that I’m engaging in the politics of envy. You’re one to talk. Liberals have been engaged in the politics of envy since the beginning of the 20th century. OWS sound familiar? Tax the rich? Let the tax cuts for the rich expire? You are a partisan hack job, and a hypocrite to boot. You wear political blinders that preserve your way of thinking by preventing you from listening to reason or facts that don’t fit your mold.
felim almost 12 years ago
Get rid of them and you’ll need them soon enough.